Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.
September 2021
30 Sep – White & Case (Seoul, Korea)
U.S. firm White & Case has strengthened its global project development and finance practice with the hire of Sungjin Kang as a partner in Seoul from Latham & Watkins.
Kang, who spent more than a decade with Latham in Hong Kong and Seoul, advises on various project-related transactions, as well as on transportation finance and M&A. He earlier worked with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy for nearly nine years. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
30 Sep – Stephenson Harwood (Singapore, Singapore)
Stephenson Harwood has hired private wealth expert Suzanne Johnston as a partner in Singapore. Johnston was most recently director and senior legal counsel at financial services firm UBS.
Johnston previously worked in the UK with firms such as Maurice Turnor Gardner, Harcus Sinclair and Linklaters. She relocating to Singapore in 2013 to join Withers, in 2013 where she spent more than five years.
Specialising in international tax and wealth planning, Johnston advises high net-worth individuals, professional trustees, family offices and private banks. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
29 Sep – Oon & Bazul (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore’s Oon & Bazul has added litigators Priscilla Lua and Jerald Foo as partners from Cavenagh Law, the Singapore law firm of Clifford Chance, where they were both senior associates.
Lua and Foo are Oon & Bazul’s second and third lateral disputes partner hires in a matter of weeks. Shortly before this, the firm hired Benedict Eoon as a partner from Covenant Chambers.
Lua focuses on international arbitration, regulatory and internal investigations and employment matters. Before moving to Cavenagh Law, she had worked with Drew & Napier.
Meanwhile, Foo spent nearly nine years at Cavenagh Law. He represents both listed companies and public individuals before the Court of Appeal, High Court and State Courts, including the Singapore International Commercial Court. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
29 Sep – L&L Partners (Mumbai, India)
India’s L&L Partners has welcomed back Sudipta Routh as a partner in Mumbai from rival IndusLaw. He moves to L&L along with three other lawyers.
L&L has seen a series of partner exits during and following the feud between Mohit Saraf and Rajiv Luthra, which resulted in Saraf taking 21 partners with him to set up Saraf & Partners.
The firm has since looked to replenish its ranks with lateral hires, including returning L&L alumni such as Subhash Bhutoria, Piyush Mishra, Asim Abbas, Sonali Choudhry and Prabjot Singh Bhullar.
With 25 years of experienc, Routh is an expert in financing, corporate and commercial matters, and specialises in structuring funds, joint ventures, acquisitions and formulating entry and investment strategies. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
28 Sep – MinterEllison (Sydney, Australia)
The general counsel and company secretary of Ramsay Health Care Australia has joined BigLaw firm MinterEllison as a partner in its health industry practice.
Minters has bolstered the ranks of its health industry practice with the appointment of Katrina Cunningham as a partner, meaning the practice now boasts 11 partners and over 40 lawyers. She joins as a partner in Sydney in the firm’s competition risk and regulatory team.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms Cunningham was the Australian general counsel and company secretary of Ramsay Health Care Australia, where she spent the last nine years of her career. Prior to that, she spent seven years at global law firm Allens. (from http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au)
27 Sep – Allen & Overy (Singapore, Singapore)
Allen & Overy has relocated arbitration practice partner Christopher Mainwaring-Taylor from its Paris office to Singapore, after a major departure from the base earlier this year.
Mainwaring-Taylor has been with Allen & Overy for over two decades and has experience of a number of the firm’s bases, having previously worked in the firm’s London and Dubai offices. He moved to Dubai as a senior associate in 2007 and helped the firm launch its international arbitration practice in the Middle East. (from http://www.law.com)
23 Sep – Phoenix Legal (Mumbai, India)
Indian law firm Phoenix Legal has hired Jatin Arora in Mumbai as the head of the firm’s indirect tax practice from Price Waterhouse & Co, where he was a principal.
Arora, who has appeared before high courts and various tribunals, possesses more than two decades of experience in indirect taxation. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
23 Sep – ING Philippines (Manila, Philippines)
Maria Concepcion Simundac, a former partner at Villaraza & Angangco (V&A Law), has joined banking and financial services company ING Philippines in Manila as lead legal counsel.
Simundac specialises in M&A, power and energy, construction and real estate, infrastructure, transportation and public utilities, and corporate and project finance matters. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
23 Sep – Argus Partners (Delhi, India)
India’s Argus Partners has added Rachika Sahay as a partner in the corporate and infrastructure team in Delhi from HSA Advocates.
Sahay joined HSA in 2018 from power company Ostro Energy, where she was general counsel. Having started her career at Trilegal, she later worked with energy company Weatherford.
Sahay counsels on corporate matters, which includes domestic as well as cross border joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and foreign direct investments. (from http://www.asianlegalonline.com)
22 Sep – Johnson Winter & Slattery (Sydney, Australia)
The head of legal at Qantas has left the Australian carrier to rejoin a local law firm after two years at the airline. Competition and antitrust lawyer Michele Laidlaw returned to Johnson Winter & Slattery as a partner earlier this month.
Laidlaw specializes in Australian competition and consumer law, advising major multinational and ASX-listed clients across a range of industries. Her areas of expertise include contentious and noncontentious merger reviews, Federal Court litigation, Competition Tribunal review and advising on consumer protection law, JWS said in a statement. (from http://www.law.com)
17 Sep – Kewei (Shanghai, China)
Herbert Smith Freehills has hired new partner Peng Lei to its Shanghai joint operation Kewei, in order to help launch its intellectual property practice on the ground.
Lei has significant patent expertise and also advises on anti-trust related litigation across industries like manufacturing, tech and consumer goods.
He was most recently a counsel at Beijing-based Han Kun Law Offices, where he spent over five years acting on patent, trademark and antitrust litigation, as well as patent prosecution and invalidation. Prior to his time in Han Kun, Lei was an associate at King & Wood Mallesons. (from http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com)
17 – Hogan Lovells (Shanghai, China)
Hogan Lovells meanwhile has added to its own separate Shanghai office with the addition of a investigations partner Calvin Ding from Greenberg Traurig.
Ding specialises in international anti-corruption advisory and investigations, cross-border litigation and e-discovery, as well as compliance with China’s anti-trust, anti-bribery and privacy laws. He advises companies on compliance programs, risk assessments, pre-transaction due diligence, government policies, and internal investigations.
He primarily acts for Chinese companies and individuals who deal in the tech, manufacturing, e-commerce, automotive and pharmaceuticals space. (from http://www.law.com)
16 Sep – Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton (Toyko, Japan & Washington DC, USA)
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today the addition of Robert “Bob” Hollingshead to the firm’s Tokyo and Washington, D.C. offices as a partner on the Patent Litigation Team in its internationally recognized Intellectual Property Department. He joins from another major international law firm.
Mr. Hollingshead’s practice focuses on intellectual property disputes, including district court and International Trade Commission litigation, adversarial patent license negotiations, counseling, and international arbitration. He works with his clients to develop successful strategies for litigation, licensing, patent procurement, Inter-Partes Review, and portfolio development and leads adversarial patent licensing negotiations and transactional negotiations. While Mr. Hollingshead’s practice focuses primarily on Asia-based companies, he also represents clients in the U.S. (from http://www.ipwatchdog.com)
16 Sep – National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (Mumbai, India)
Shagoofa Rashid Khan, the head of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas’ (CAM) national funds and investments practice, has left the firm to join the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in Mumbai as its group general counsel.
A former head of Nishith Desai Associates’ real estate funds and international tax policy practices, Khan focuses on structuring funds, managed accounts, private equity, acquisitions, restructuring, joint ventures and strategic initiatives.
Khan joined CAM in 2016 following a string of senior in-house roles at companies like IDFC Alternatives, Tata Services and Kotak Investment Advisors. She was at Nishith Desai between 2002 and 2006. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
15 Sep – HFW (Hong Kong, China)
Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) has added new partner Karen Cheung to its Hong Kong disputes practice, adding a new layer to the firm’s local offering.
Cheung acts on commercial litigation and arbitration matters. She advises state-owned and multinational companies on cross-border disputes, white-collar crime, shareholder disputes judicial review, and regulatory investigations.
Cheung also advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in Greater China on probate litigation, matrimonial proceedings and land disputes. (from http://www.law.com)
15 Sep – Hogan Lovells (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Hogan Lovells Miami partner Gaston Fernandez is set to relocate to Vietnam, where the firm has two offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as managing partner.
Fernandez advises on infrastructure and energy project financing with a focus on emerging markets. Whilst based in Miami, Fernandez specialized in Latin America projects, often with ties to Asian financiers and investors.
Fernandez will be based in Hogan Lovells’ Ho Chi Minh City office, where the firm counts seven lawyers. In Hanoi, the firm has one lawyer. (from http://www.law.com)
10 Sep – Bird & Bird (Sydney, Australia)
International law firm Bird & Bird has hired a disputes lawyer from Ashurst to join its partnership in Sydney.
The London-based firm’s hire of Julie Cheeseman, previously a counsel at Ashurst, comes at a time when dispute resolution lawyers are in strong demand in Australia.
She specializes in technology, media and telecommunications disputes covering a variety of technologies and complex implementations, including billing, inventory management, customer management and e-Health systems, as well as satellite and cable transmission networks. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Sep – L&L Partners (Delhi, India)
The Delhi office of Indian law firm L&L Partners has hired litigator Mohit Bakshi (L) as a partner from J Sagar Associates. Bakshi, who was with JSA for more than a decade, specialises in civil and corporate commercial litigation, and white-collar crimes. Meanwhile, Singh has experience of more than 17 years, including nearly a decade with L&L. His clients include financial institutions, private equity investors and Indian conglomerates, with a specific focus on energy and infrastructure sectors. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
9 Sep – Guido Hidayanto & Partners (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Indonesia’s Guido Hidayanto & Partners (GHP) has added commercial lawyer Yohanes Masengi as a partner in Jakarta from Makarim & Taira S, where he worked for more than 15 years.
Masengi advises on investment, infrastructure, power projects, ports, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment and corporate restructuring.
He joined Makarim in 2005, and became the firm’s youngest partner. Masengi was named on the ALB Indonesia Rising Stars list in both 2019 and 2020. (from au.legalbusinessonline.com)
9 Sep – Withers (Hong Kong, China)
Withers has boosted its litigation and international arbitration practice in Hong Kong with the hire of two lawyers from Bird & Bird, including partner Michael Chik.
Chik is Withers’ second disputes partner addition in days. The firm recently hired commercial litigator Joseph Chu as a partner in Hong Kong from Simmons & Simmons.
Chik specialises in regulatory matters including compliance issues. He is also experienced in international arbitration under various institutional rules including proceedings conducted under ICC, SIAC and HKIAC rules. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Sep – Squire Patton Boggs (Singapore & Perth, Australia)
Squire Patton Boggs has hired commodities lawyers Ivan Chia and Hazel Brewers as partners from HFW in Singapore and Brisbane, respectively.
Chia joined HFW in January 2018 from Watson, Farley & Williams, where he spent about a decade. Focusing on international energy, renewables and infrastructure projects, Chia advises on development, procurement, joint venture and M&A matters. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Sep – K&L Gates (Singapore, Singapore)
K&L Gates has continued its Asia expansion with the addition of a lawyer to its Singapore partnership.
Fund formation and transactions partner Edward Bennett joins from Morgan Lewis, which he joined in 2017 after spending over 17 years at Ashurst. (from http://www.law.com)
7 Sep – Tilleke & Gibbins (Bangkok, Thailand)
Thailand-headquartered Tilleke & Gibbins has hired Derrick Khoo as a partner in Bangkok from Myanmar-focused conglomerate Marga Group, where he was general counsel.
With experience in cross-border M&A, growth equity investments, real estate, foreign direct investments, JVs and other corporate and commercial transactions, Khoo has worked in Hong Kong, Thailand, Mainland China and Singapore. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Sep – McDermott Will & Emery (Singapore, Singapore)
McDermott Will & Emery has secured a three-lawyer corporate team from Squire Patton Boggs in Singapore for its newly launched office just as Squire boosts its Asia Pacific commodities team with two partner hires from UK firm HFW.
The trio joining McDermott will reside in its global transactions practice and focus on general corporate work, boosting the energy and international projects expertise offered by Hwang and recently hired energy expert Merrick White, who joined the firm from King & Spalding in July and has relocated from London. (from http://www.globallegalpost.com)
2 Sep – Walkers (Hong Kong, China)
Offshore law firm Walkers has added Tom Pugh as a partner in Hong Kong from Mayer Brown.
Having spent nearly 15 years in Hong Kong, Pugh handles large-scale cross-border liquidations and restructuring matters, and advises insolvency practitioners, creditors and debtors. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Sep – Oon & Bazul (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore’s Oon & Bazul has hired Benedict Eoon as a partner. He was most recently an associate director at local boutique Covenant Chambers.
Eoon focuses on commercial litigation, arbitration, white-collar crime and investigations. Before moving to Covenant, he was an associate director at Singapore Big Four law firm Drew & Napier. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Sep – Ogier (Singapore, Singapore)
Offshore law firm Ogier’s corporate administration business, Ogier Global, is set to open a Singapore office with the appointment Mei Luo and Connie Chan as associate directors.
Luo and Chan have a combined 35 years of experience supporting asset managers, institutional clients and corporates with their governance, corporate administration and regulatory, and compliance needs. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Sep – Dentons Rodyk & Davidson (Mumbai, India)
Singapore’s Dentons Rodyk & Davidson has hired Ipshita Chaturvedi as partner in the firm’s environment and natural resources practice. She was most recently running her own practice, C&C Advisors, in India.
With more than 10 years of experience, Chaturvedi advises on environmental compliance and regulation, clean-technology, waste management and EPR related matters, carbon finance, water law and ocean governance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
1 Sep – Clyde & Co (Brisbane, Australia)
Clyde & Co hires Brisbane insurance partner to continue Australian and Global expansion. Global law firm Clyde & Co has today announced the hire of Partner David Kerwin, who joins the firm’s national insurance group, based in Brisbane.
David brings immense expertise in handling complex (and often novel) matters involving property risks, financial lines, D&O liability, professional indemnity, policy coverage and defence health/life insurance lines. He is an experienced litigator and widely recognised for his technical skills, commerciality and practical approach. (from http://www.clydeco.com)
1 Sep – King & Wood Mallesons (Singapore, Singapore)
A private capital-focused partner with 12 years’ experience at Herbert Smith Freehills has joined King & Wood Mallesons in Singapore. Nicola Yeomans was most recently a partner and head of Asia private capital at Herbert Smith Freehills. She has now joined King & Wood Mallesons, enhancing its international and regional offerings. In her most recent position, Yeomans specialised in private equity and asset management across Asia. She advised clients on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), sales, joint ventures, fundraisings and real asset projects. (from ICLG.com)
August 2021
26 Aug – Bae, Kim & Lee (Singapore, Singapore)
Bae, Kim & Lee (BKL), Korea’s third-largest law firm, is all set to establish an office in Singapore. The office will be led by Eric Yang, partner and head of the firm’s Southeast Asia practice. When the office opens, it will make BKL the latest foreign firm to establish an outpost in Singapore in 2021, following India’s Khaitan & Co, PRC firm AllBright Law Offices, and U.S. law firms McDermott Will & Emery and Orrick. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
26 Aug – Baker McKenzie (Melbourne, Australia)
Baker McKenzie has appointed Matt Coleman as a construction partner in Melbourne. Matt joins Baker McKenzie from MinterEllison. Matt is experienced in project management, project structuring, procurement and delivery strategy, risk analysis, and drafting and negotiating all forms of infrastructure and construction related agreements, with specialist experience in public-private partnerships and collaborative contracting models. (from http://www.bakermckenzie.com)
26 Aug – Khaitan & Co. (Singapore, Singapore)
Khaitan & Co. has hired Karun Cariappa, a former partner and head of the India practice at Morgan Lewis Stamford, as a partner in its newly opened Singapore office. Cariappa’s most recent role was as founder of Fernback Holdings, which provided transactional support to corporates, founders, start-ups, funds and family offices. He more than two decades of experience advising corporate issuers and investment banks, and focuses on capital markets and transactional work. Cariappa was at Morgan Lewis for about a year, having joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons. His previous firms include Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, Jones Day and the legacy Amarchand Mangaldas. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
25 Aug – Garuda (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Timur Sukirno, formerly senior partner and head of disputes at Baker McKenzie’s Indonesian member firm, Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners (HHP), has retired from the firm to join troubled flag carrier Garuda Indonesia as president commissioner. Sukirno, who is the founder of the Indonesian Receivers and Administrators Association, has expertise in insolvency and restructuring processes. He spent more than three decades at HHP. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
19 Aug – Latham & Watkins (Singapore, Singapore)
Both Bhasin and Clayton-Payne join from Shearman & Sterling. They advise clients in the energy and infrastructure sector on inbound and outbound transactions, joint ventures, take-overs, strategic investments, restructurings, divestments and private equity exits.
Both Bhasin and Clayton-Payne join from Shearman & Sterling. They advise clients in the energy and infrastructure sector on inbound and outbound transactions, joint ventures, take-overs, strategic investments, restructurings, divestments and private equity exits.
Meanwhile, Stokes, who spent more than two decades at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, will focus on project development and finance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
18 Aug – Hill Dickinson (Singapore, Singapore)
UK-headquartered maritime firm Hill Dickinson has hired trade and commodities specialists Devottam Sengupta and Iain Sharp as partners in Singapore. Both join from in-house roles.
Dev Sengupta is a member of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (India) 2006 and joins Hill Dickinson from Greensill Capital in Singapore. He has significant experience in providing structuring and legal support through the entire transaction lifecycle and has led on a range of multimillion dollar banking, trade finance and structured finance transactions. He was previously Co-Head of the Global Markets and Financing Legal Team at Louis Dreyfus Company, and is also an expert in Indian law.
Meanwhile, Sharp moves from commodities trading house Gunvor Group, where he was head of legal for Asia-Pacific. He focuses on litigation, international arbitration, negotiation, and ADR related to international trade and commodities.(from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
17 Aug – Tiang & Partners (Hong Kong, China)
Tiang & Partners, a Hong Kong firm that works closely with PwC’s global legal network, has hired Chiang Ling Li as head of its IP practice from Jones Day, where she worked for over 13 years. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
17 Aug – Conyers (Hong Kong, China)
Offshore law firm Conyers has hired veteran disputes lawyer Mark Yeadon as its head of Hong Kong disputes and restructuring practice from Eversheds Sutherland, where he led the Asia litigation and dispute management practice.
Prior to joining Eversheds, Yeadon spent 22 years at Slaughter and May, leaving that firm in 2010 as the head of its litigation practice in Hong Kong. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
17 Aug – Withers (Hong Kong, China)
Joseph Chu has left Simmons & Simmons, where he was partner, to join Withers in Hong Kong. Chu has over 20 years’ experience acting on cross-border commercial litigation and international arbitration matters. (from http://www.law.com)
17 Aug – Pinsent Masons (Singapore, Singapore)
Will Stroll joins Pinsent Masons from Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was senior associate. Stroll specializes in Southeast Asia renewable energy transactions, advising investment funds, independent power producers and oil & gas companies on the corporate and commercial, and regulatory matters. (from http://www.law.com)
16 Aug – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
The global law firm has grown its financial regulation practice with the appointment of a new Sydney-based partner. Hong-Viet Nguyen has taken to Ashurst’s partnership, joining from HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, where she has been a partner since 2017. (from http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au)
12 Aug – Clayton Utz (Melbourne, Australia)
Melbourne-based Angela Wood has joined Clayton Utz as a partner within the firm’s national taxation practice. She joins from KPMG Law, where she was the national lead partner and ASPAC regional lead partner for tax controversy.
Bringing with her over 20 years’ experience in specialist tax controversy work, Ms Wood has advised across numerous matters, including complex tax disputes on behalf of multinationals, ASX-listed corporates, private equity funds and private groups. (from http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au)
9 Aug – Hall & Wilcox (Perth, Australia)
Hall & Wilcox has expanded its national commercial disputes expertise with the new addition of a construction and projects disputes partner in its Perth office.
Penny Ford has joined the international firm from Norton Rose Fulbright and brings a breadth of construction and litigation experience, having worked in the Australian legal industry for over two decades. (from http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au)
5 Aug – Oentoeng Suria & Partners (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Oentoeng Suria & Partners (OSP), Ashurst’s associate firm in Indonesia, has hired Dion Alfadya as a partner in Jakarta from Ginting & Reksodiputro, which operates in association with Allen & Overy.
Alfadya, who was a counsel at A&O, specialises in M&A, joint ventures, fundraisings, strategic collaborations and investments, private equity and venture capital transactions. With experience of more than 15 years, he focuses on the Indonesian and broader Southeast Asian markets. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
5 Aug – HSA Advocates (Mumbai, India)
India’s HSA Advocates has hired Vishal Lohire as a partner from Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (L&S), where he was a joint partner leading the firm’s Mumbai commercial dispute resolution team.
Lohire, who has been in the legal industry for nearly 15 years, joins after HSA’s second partner hire in Mumbai in a month: projects expert Ravi Jain recently joined from Economic Laws Practice (ELP). (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
5 Aug – Samvad Partners (Mumbai, India)
India’s Samvad Partners has hired corporate lawyer Jeeta Nayak as a partner in Mumbai from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, where she was a director.
Nayak’s addition is Samvad’s first partner hire since it brought disputes expert Savani Gupte on board from Khaitan & Co in March. (from asia.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Aug – L&L Partners (Bangalore & Delhi, India)
India’s L&L Partners has hired Abhishek Kumar (L) and Vasudev Dibbur as the firm’s newest partners. They join the Bengaluru and Delhi offices, respectively.
L&L Partners has seen a number of departures during the year-long public feud between the firm’s managing partner Rajiv Luthra and former equity partner Mohit Saraf.
This is Dibbur’s second stint with the firm, his first being an 11-year-long one that ended last year.. He specialises in cross-border M&A, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital fund investments.
Meanwhile, Kumar joins the litigation practice. With more than 15 years of experience, he was previously at Singhania & Partners. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Aug – White & Case (Hong Kong, China)
U.S. firm White & Case has added capital markets specialist Margie Chan as a partner in Hong Kong from Norton Rose Fullbright (NRF).
Chan’s arrival comes about two months after White & Case lost senior lawyers to NRF in Hong Kong: PE/M&A partner Peggy Wang and counsel Victor Sim, who focuses on leveraged, structured and real estate finance.
Chan, who started her career at Herbert Smith Freehills in 2000, focuses on debt offerings, private placement issuances and liability management transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Aug – Withers (Singapore, Singapore)
We are pleased to welcome banking and finance partner Guan Feng Chen to our Singapore office. Guan Feng has more than 25 years of experience advising on high-profile and groundbreaking finance transactions across South East Asia, particularly in Indonesia, and a growing number of fintech-related deals. He is joined by Bi Qing C. (from http://www.linkedin.com)
3 Aug – Harneys (Hong Kong, China)
Harneys is pleased to announce that Yucheng Fan has joined the firm as a partner in the Investment Funds practice based in the Hong Kong office.
Yucheng Fan joins Harneys from another offshore law firm in Hong Kong and specialises in Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands fund matters, advising on the structure, formation, launch and maintenance of private equity funds, venture capital funds, corporate venture capital funds, hedge funds and unit trusts. He is fluent in four languages and a native Japanese and Mandarin speaker, and is one of the only offshore lawyers with a Japanese attorney qualification (Bengoshi), practising Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands law. (from http://www.harneys.com)
3 Aug – White & Case (Sydney, Australia)
Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Project Development and Finance Practice with the addition of partners Chris Flynn and Tim Kennedy in Sydney.
Flynn advises domestic and international companies and governments on energy and resources transactions and projects, particularly in the upstream, LNG and power sectors, and on public international law and energy security matters. He has experience across Australia, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. Flynn joins White & Case from Gilbert + Tobin, where he was a partner, head of their energy and resources group and a member of the firm’s board.
“Chris has extensive experience advising on oil & gas opportunities and renewable energy projects, particularly LNG, offshore wind and renewables-based hydrogen,” said White & Case partner Andrew Clark, Regional Section Head Asia-Pacific EIPAF & Disputes. “Tim is a high calibre partner with experience advising on market leading energy transition projects. Together, the partners will add material depth to our energy and power capabilities in Australia and more broadly across Asia-Pacific as we continue to grow our offering for clients in these sectors.” (from http://www.whitecase.com)
2 Aug – Gowling WLG (Beijing, China)
Anglo-Canadian firm Gowling WLG has expanded its Asia footprint with the addition of Clyde & Co’s China IP head, Elliot Papageorgiou.
Papageorgiou advises on both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and on strategies to optimize IP portfolios. He joined Clyde & Co in 2017 from IP specialist firm Rouse, where he had been a partner for 13 years and left when he was head of patent litigation. He joined Rouse’s London office in 1999 and moved to China as partner five years later. He had previously practiced with Australian firm Clayton Utz, and also spent time in-house with Getty Images. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Aug – Fangda Partners (Beijing, China)
Fangda is delighted to announce that leading lawyer Zhao Yan has joined the firm’s Beijing office as a partner to launch our tax practice. Mr. Zhao has over two decades’ experience in advising clients on a broad spectrum of tax-related areas, from tax advisory on M&A deals, international/non-resident tax, tax planning for high-net wealth families and individuals to contentious/regulatory tax work such as advising clients on general tax audits, special investigations, and transfer pricing investigations, among other matters, initiated by tax authorities. He has been listed as a recommended lawyer in the field of PRC tax law by The Legal 500 as well as other prominent legal directories for consecutive years.
Prior to joining Fangda, Mr. Zhao was previously a partner of another leading PRC law firm, and had worked with three of the “Big Four” accounting firms. He is a qualified PRC lawyer as well as a Certified Tax Agent of the PRC. (from http://www.fangdalaw.com)
2 Aug – Latham & Watkins (Seoul, Korea)
Richard Lee’s arrival in Latham & Watkins’ Seoul-based capital markets division follows the recent exit of Adrian Chiodo who to join Paul Hastings in London. Lee has moved to Latham & Watkins from Clifford Chance where he was a partner in Hong Kong for a decade. He is an experienced adviser to Asian and international issuers on an array of securities matters such as debt and equity offerings, with abilities to advise on the entire life cycle of such financings. He is also well-versed in high-yield bond matters. (from http://www.iclg.com)
2 Aug – Norton Rose Fulbright (Singapore, Singapore)
Ashurst partner Andrew Digges has left the firm to join Norton Rose Fulbright in Singapore.
Digges will join Norton Rose Fulbright’s infrastructure, mining and commodities practice, led by global head Nick Merritt, who is also based in Singapore. (from http://www.law.com)
July 2021
29 Jul – The Fort Circle (Mumbai, India)
Priyanka Desai and Jaideep Singh Khattar, formerly principal associates at Khaitan & Co, have established a boutique firm called The Fort Circle in Mumbai.
The firm specialises in dispute resolution, arbitration, white collar crime, real estate litigation, private client practice and corporate advisory.
Desai has also previously worked with K Ashar & Co, while Khattar’s earlier firms include Legasis Partners and Desai & Diwanji. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
28 Jul – Holding Redlich (Sydney, Australia)
Partner Chris Kinsella, who joins the firm’s Sydney base, has over three decades of experience in tax disputes. (from http://www.law.com)
26 Jul – White & Case (Melbourne, Australia)
Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global International Arbitration Practice with the addition of Lee Carroll as a partner in Melbourne. (from http://www.whitecase.com)
26 Jul – Allens (Melbourne, Australia)
Allens has appointed Louis Chiam as a Partner in the firm’s Projects and Development practice in Melbourne. Louis has deep experience in energy, regulation, climate change and major projects and joins Allens from KWM where he was partner. (from http://www.allens.com.au)
26 Jul – Kirkland & Ellis (Hong Kong, China)
Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce that Paul Guan, a top private equity real estate lawyer, has joined the Firm as a partner in Hong Kong. He will lead the Firm’s private equity real estate practice in Asia. (from http://www.kirkland.com)
26 Jul – Sparke Helmore (Canberra, Australia)
Australian law firm Sparke Helmore has hired a partner from one of Australia’s Big Six firms to join its government practice. Alexandra Wedutenko joins Sparke Helmore’s Canberra-based government team from Clayton Utz, one of the largest law firms in the country with 167 partners. (from http://www.law.com)
26 Jul – K&L Gates (Tokyo, Japan)
Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has further strengthened its intellectual property practice with the addition of partner Mitsuhiro Imamura and his team of paralegals in the firm’s Tokyo office. Imamura and his team join K&L Gates from DLA Piper, and are a key addition to the firm’s global intellectual property practice, giving K&L Gates, for the first time, the ability to file Japanese patent and trademark applications, among other capabilities. (from http://www.klgates.com)
21 Jul – Hogan Lovells (Singapore, Singapore)
Hogan Lovells has hired capital markets partner Biswajit Chatterjee into its Corporate & Finance practice in Singapore.
Chatterjee joins Hogan Lovells from Squire Patton Boggs, where he currently serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s India practice and heads the South East Asia corporate practice. New York and India qualified, his focus is on capital markets, M&A and private equity transactions. He has advised on some of the largest equity and debt offerings in India and South East Asia. (from http://www.hoganlovells.com)
21 Jul – Han Yi Law Offices (Shanghai, China)
Shanghai-headquartered boutique firm Han Yi Law Offices has hired Chen Liang as partner from Commerce & Finance Law Offices. Chen, who also has working experiences with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Haiwen & Partners, and a Nasdaq-listed Chinese TMT company as its chief compliance officer and general counsel, will continue her practice in both Shanghai and Beijing. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
21 Jul – Hylands Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Hylands Law Firm has hired Li Yanlong, an expert in corporate compliance, as a partner in its Beijing headquarter from Real Long Law Firm, where Li was a partner.
Li’s practice covers corporate compliance, healthcare, and capital markets. With experience in the research of corporate legal risks management, he has advised a number of listed companies and large state-owned enterprises, involving fields like healthcare, real estate, construction, human resources, finance lease, insurance, and investment in funds. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
20 Jul – Ashurst (Singapore, Singapore)
Ashurst has hired a new partner, Robert Child, for its restructuring, insolvency and special situations practice in Singapore. Child joins Ashurst from Clifford Chance, where he was most recently Singapore-based counsel. (from http://www.law.com)
19 Jul – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
Global law firm Ashurst has appointed Emma de Carle as a partner in its Global Loans practice in Sydney. Emma joins from PwC, where she has been a partner since 2018. Emma is a specialist in leveraged and acquisition finance, corporate finance and asset based lending with an extensive network of longstanding relationships across private equity sponsors, corporates, domestic and international investment banks and credit funds. (from http://www.ashurst.com)
19 Jul – Stephenson Harwood (Singapore, Singapore)
Stephenson Harwood has hired a new partner for its Singapore office. Christopher Bailey joins the firm from King & Spalding, where he was a partner in Tokyo. (from http://www.law.com)
16 Jul – Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (Tokyo, Japan)
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has recruited a corporate partner in Tokyo focusing on mergers and acquisitions amid rising deal activity.
Jeff Schrepfer joins from Morrison & Foerster where he was a Tokyo partner representing Japanese companies on outbound deals. In 2020, he advised Fujifilm Holdings Corp. on a $2.3 billion acquisition of a remaining 25% stake in its joint venture with Xerox Corp. He’s also acted for Japanese businesses including Nissan Motor, Tokyo Gas and Taisho Pharmaceutical on foreign acquisitions and operations. (from http://www.law.com)
15 Jul – Merits & Tree (Shanghai, China)
Merits & Tree has hired data compliance expert Chen Wenhao as a partner in its Shanghai office from AllBright Law Offices, where he was a partner. Chen had also practiced at King & Wood Mallesons, Kirkland & Ellis and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.
Chen’s practice areas include data compliance, anti-bribe, corporate investigation, government regulation and dispute resolution. He has advised various companies in industries including Internet, high technology, retail, medical equipment, and automobile manufacturing. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Jul – K&L Gates (Tokyo, Japan)
The Tokyo office of K&L Gates has hired a team of intellectual lawyers from DLA Piper, including partner Mitsuhiro Imamura.
Imamura focuses on patent filings and patent disputes in both national and international transactions, as well as deals with trademark filings, trademark portfolio management, trademark disputes and negotiations, and opposition and invalidity proceedings. (from au.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Jul – FTI Consulting (Singapore, Singapore)
Forensic investigations expert Rachel Layburn has joined advisory firm FTI Consulting as a senior managing director in Singapore from WPP, where she was the group head of compliance for APAC.
Layburn has more than 20 years of experience in China and Singapore. At FTI, she will work closely with practices such as data & analytics, export controls and financial crime compliance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
13 Jul – Broad & Bright (Shanghai, China)
Broad & Bright has hired Yang Ying, an expert in cross-border M&A, in its Shanghai office from Xin Bai Law Firm, where she was a partner.
Yang’s practice areas include cross-border M&A, corporate governance and compliance, and commercial dispute resolution. She has advised a number of multinational enterprises and financial institutes. Yang had also been one of the founding members of Broad & Bright’s Shanghai office. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
13 Jul – Han Kun Law Offices (Shanghai, China)
Han Kun Law Offices has hired cross-border M&A expert Nick Shu as a partner in its Shanghai office. Prior to joining Han Kun, Shu served as the director of corporate development of a US-listed Chinse e-commerce group. He had also practiced in White & Case LLP, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Shu’s practice areas include cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital investment, capital markets, foreign direct investment, and other general corporate matters. He has represented various private equity firms, venture capital funds, strategic investors, portfolio companies, and multinational companies in connection with their cross-border M&A and diverse types of cross-border investments and financing. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
13 Jul – Anli Partners (Beijing, China)
Anli Partners has hired Li Ying, an expert in cross-border M&A, as a partner in its Beijing office.
Li’s practice areas include cross-border M&A, private equity, and investment and finance. He has advised a number of domestic and multinational enterprises on deals with complex structures. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
13 Jul – Norton Rose Fulbright (Melbourne, Australia)
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has hired a partner who specializes in environmental and town planning law for its Melbourne office.
Nick Sutton, who focuses on major projects, joins NRF from local law firm Planning & Property Partners, where he worked for more than a decade. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jul – Holman Fenwick Willan (Sydney, Australia)
U.K.-headquartered law firm Holman Fenwick Willan is expanding its Australia dispute resolution and construction practices with the hire of partner Jo Delaney in Sydney.
Delaney, who joins from Baker McKenzie, has more than 20 years’ experience of international arbitration in the construction, energy and infrastructure sectors, HFW said. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jul – Mayer Brown (Hong Kong, China)
Mayer Brown announced today that four leading capital markets partners, Guiping Lu, Philip Hyde, Bonnie Yung and Jason Wang, have joined the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice in Hong Kong, along with four lawyers.
The prominent debt capital markets team led by Mr. Lu and Mr. Hyde join from K&L Gates, while the high-profile equity capital markets duo of Ms. Yung and Mr. Wang were both previously at Paul Hastings and join from LC Lawyers LLP, the Hong Kong law firm member of the EY global network.
Their arrival further bolsters Mayer Brown’s award winning capital markets team in Hong Kong, as the firm continues to grow a prominent and globally integrated capital markets product offering in the key financial centers of New York, London and Hong Kong. (from http://www.mayerbrown.com)
11 Jul – Jia Yuan Law Offices (Hong Kong, China)
Jia Yuan Law Offices has hired capital market lawyer Benjamin Wang as a partner in its Hong Kong branch from Zhong Lun Law Firm, where Wang was a counsel. He had also practiced at the Hong Kong offices of Morrison & Foerster and Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Wang’s practice focuses on IPO, listing, capital finance, M&A, and private equity. He has advised a number of enterprises and financial institutes on IPO, issuance of bonds, allotment, M&A, and private equity investment. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
11 Jul – Hylands Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Hylands Law Firm has hired dispute resolution and litigation experts Lv Chunjie and Ma Zhankun as partners in its Beijing headquarter.
Lv’s practice focuses on dispute resolution, litigation, family wealth management and inheritance, and criminal compliance. He has dealt with over 100 commercial and criminal litigation cases. Prior to joining Hylands, Lv was a lawyer at Yuanhe Partners.
Ma’s practice focuses on dispute resolution, litigation, M&A, banking and finance. He has advised a number of central enterprises, state-owned enterprises and private companies on litigation, arbitration, asset management, corporate compliance, and M&A. Ma has ten years’ work experience in court trial. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
8 Jul – Chance Bridge (Shenzhen, China)
Chance Bridge has hired financial markets expert Li Ningzi as a partner in its Shenzhen office from Guangdong Shigang Law Firm, where he was a partner.
Li’s practice focuses on financial markets and dispute resolution. He has participated in a few large projects in capital markets and securities. Li had also worked in a securities company and a technology company where he was in charge of corporate compliance and risks control, and investment and M&A projects. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
8 Jul – J Sagar Associates (Gurugram, India)
The duo join JSA only days after the firm roped in Ipsita Chowdhury as a partner in Gurugram from Trilegal.
Anand, who joins JSA’s Gurugram office, has 15 years of experience focusing on handling various financing transactions involving Indian and foreign banks and financial institutions. Prior to joining Juris Corp, he worked at Khaitan & Co.
Meanwhile, Kumar rejoins JSA’s Mumbai office, where he initially worked from 2012 to 2017. His practice includes domestic and cross border corporate lending, trade finance transactions and securitisation transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Jul – Ashurst (Hong Kong, China)
CMS has bolstered its international practices with a series of partner hires across Mexico, Colombia and Hong Kong. The firm has added Ashurst finance partner Christopher Whiteley, who will establish a capital markets and derivatives practice for the Hong Kong practice. (from http://www.law.com)
6 Jul – Jingtian & Gongcheng (Hong Kong, China)
China’s Jingtian & Gongcheng has added a capital markets partner in Hong Kong. Wei Liu joins from DLA Piper where he had been a partner since 2006. Liu has advised some of the earliest Chinese listings in Hong Kong, especially those of state-owned enterprises, having participating in the drafting of policies in the 1990s that allowed Chinese companies to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In 2018, he advised China Maple Leaf Educational Systems, an international school operator, on a $127 million share placement in Hong Kong. (from http://www.law.com)
6 Jul – J Sagar Associates (Gurugram, India)
India’s J Sagar Associates (JSA) has added M&A lawyer Ipsita Chowdhury as a partner in its Gurugram office from Trilegal. Chowdhury, who spent more than a decade at Trilegal, specialises in M&A, corporate advisory and compliance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Jul – HSA Advocates (Mumbai, India)
Indian law firm HSA Advocates has hired projects and energy specialist Ravi Jain as a partner in Mumbai from Economic Laws Practice (ELP).
Jain’s hire comes shortly after HSA added a team of projects and infrastructure lawyers in Delhi from Advaita Legal, including partners, Shailendra Kumar Singh, Alok Shankar and Monali Dutta.
Jain, who has been in the legal industry for over 15 years, represents clients on M&A matters as well as contractual, transactional, regulatory and financing aspects of deals. He worked with law firms AZB & Partners and Khaitan & Co prior to joining ELP. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Jul – Simmons & Simmons (Singapore, Singapore)
Simmons & Simmons has hired financial markets expert Sonia Lim as a partner in Singapore from Linklaters, where she was a counsel.
Lim, who has 25 years of experience, focuses on regulatory reforms with an emphasis on legal and regulatory issues relating to OTC derivatives and other financial markets products and services. Prior to joining Linklaters in 2017, Lim worked in-house with JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citi, as well as with law firm Allen & Overy. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Jul – L&L Partners (Mumbai, India)
India’s L&L Partners has welcomed back insolvency expert Piyush Mishra as a partner in Mumbai from AZB & Partners.
Mishra’s hire comes shortly after L&L lost insolvency specialist Avinash Subramanian to AZB, the latest in a series of partner exits from the firm. Mishra also marks the fourth time a partner has rejoined L&L since November last year, following the returns of Asim Abbas, Sonali Choudhry and Prabjot Singh Bhullar.(from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
5 Jul – King & Wood Mallesons (Hong Kong, China)
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is delighted to announce the strategic expansion of the firm’s equity capital markets (ECM) practice with the addition of Corey Zhang to the Hong Kong partnership.
Corey joins the Hong Kong office on 5 July 2021. Corey joins from the Hong Kong office of a leading international firm with a strong capital markets focus. He has over a decade of experience advising issuers and underwriters on a range of equity and debt capital markets transactions, including Hong Kong IPOs, London global depositary receipt offerings, and Rule 144A and Regulation S debt offerings, as well as general securities and compliance matters. (from http://www.kwm.com)
5 Jul – Baker McKenzie (Hong Kong, China)
As Baker McKenzie expands Hong Kong transactions capabilities, Victoria Lloyd joins from Ropes & Gray where she had been a partner in Hong Kong where she advised banks and multinational investors. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Jul – Tian Yuan Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Tian Yuan Law Firm has been granted with qualification to launch intellectual property commissioning services, with an IP lawyer Chi Song joining as a partner, who brings a team of nearly ten.
Chi was a partner at Zhihong Intellectual Property Rights prior to joining Tian Yuan. He has experience in import and export business of energy companies, technology R&D and import of high-tech companies, as well as corporate IP management. His team joining Tian Yuan includes patent agents, foreign patent engineers, trademark agents, trademark process managers and attorneys. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
1 Jul – Norton Rose Fulbright (Australia)
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that Chris Owen has joined as the firm’s first dedicated pro bono partner in Australia. (from http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com)
1 Jul – Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Sydney, Australia)
Australia’s leading independent law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, today welcomes six new partners to the firm. The team comprises four corporate partners and two banking and finance partners, based in Sydney. Leading private equity specialists Ricky Casali, Glen Sauer, Chris Allen and Andrew Hewson are joining Corrs’ corporate group, with respected financing partners Stewart Robertson and John Mosley joining the firm’s banking and finance practice. (from www.corrs.com.au)
1 Jul – Rimon (Seoul, Korea)
Rimon is pleased to announce it has opened an office in Seoul, South Korea with, Jungwoo Chang joining the firm as corporate partner. Rimon’s Seoul office is its 42nd location, following the opening of new offices in international hubs London, Paris and Montréal earlier this year, as well as several new offices in the United States. (from https://rimonlaw.com)